What is a Cruise Ship?

Cruise ships are massive passenger vessels that take guests on sea vacations to different exotic locations worldwide.

In contrast to an ocean liner that transports passengers from one point to the other, across the oceans, a cruise ship or a cruise liner, takes people on a round trip which can last from a single day to a week or more and culminates at the originating port.

On a cruise trip, the ship visits various ports of call and people can enjoy tours or shore excursions involving exciting activities.

Though modern cruise vessels have less speed and hull strength than ocean liners, they have other amenities and offer luxuries to guests, ensuring they have a comfortable and pleasant stay onboard.

Cruise Ship Market

As of July 2024, about 323 cruise ships operate in the world. There are 51 ocean cruise lines and 27 river cruise lines. The average age of a cruise ship is 17.5 years and the industry has seen tremendous growth with atleast 8 to 9 ships being added to the global cruise shipping fleet each year since 2001.

The cruise market is estimated to produce a revenue of U.S $ 42.30 Billion which is expected to grow at a rate of 4.81% annually till 2029, leading to a market volume of about U.S $ 53.49 Billion by 2029.

Also, the number of consumers is expected to increase to 48.51 million by 2029 and so is user penetration.

The Advent of Cruise Ships

The present-day form of cruising can be traced back to the beginning of the 20th century when transoceanic travelling was at its zenith.

In those times, ships were the main form of transportation across continents so shipping companies tried to provide the best services to maintain their position in the market.

The ocean liners offered what came to be known as line voyages. But because of the long journey, which at best would be no less than four days, most space onboard was used for storing fuel and other necessities which didn’t leave much room for the addition of luxuries.

With the advent of air transportation, there was a shift in passenger preference and the long sea voyages were left for only the ardent sea enthusiasts.

This situation was ideal for the launch of a cruise ship. It needed something strikingly different to attract people to sea voyages and this is where these trips gained popularity.

Since the cruise journey was short with several stopovers at exotic places where ships could refuel and get maintenance if needed, more space became available for adding grandeur, making them literal floating hotels, offering top-notch hospitality, with a hospitality staff apart from the crew members.

Those companies which cooperate with cruise ships are called cruise lines. Most cruise ships sail to the Mediterranean and Caribbean, apart from Scandinavia, Alaska, Australia, the South Pacific and even Antarctica.

Facilities On Cruise Ships

The facilities onboard these cruise liners include great dining services. Some liners offer open-air dining on the deck, others have expensively designed dining halls with mouth-watering recipes which leave a long-lasting impression on the passengers.

In addition to this, there are casinos, fitness centres, spas, and cinemas, and some ships even have a Broadway-like theatre. These cruise ships also boast swimming pools, hot tubs, lounges, libraries, gyms and clubs.

To put it in a nutshell, they pamper the passengers with the best hospitality and services that can be imagined with some of the choicest natural views along the sea.

Over the last decade, cruising has become an integral part of the tourism industry contributing over $25 billion yearly to this booming sector. The major bulk of the business comes from the North American and European regions but the other areas like the Pan Pacific are also catching up.

You might also like to read:

• Top 10 Largest Cruise Ships in 2021
• Top 10 Most Expensive Cruise Ships in 2021
• Engineering Department Onboard Cruise Ships – A Detailed Guide
• Titanic vs Modern Cruise Ship: How Ships Have Evolved 
• Video: Why Are Cruise Ships White?

About Author

Zahra is an alumna of Miranda House, University of Delhi. She is an avid writer, possessing immaculate research and editing skills. Author of several academic papers, she has also worked as a freelance writer, producing many technical, creative and marketing pieces. A true aesthete at heart, she loves books a little more than anything else.

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